Transport truck "Trailer Tail" - aftermarket aero kit ~5% MPG improvement (video)
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Saw this today:
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Grabbed this tuft testing image from the video as well: http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1272899626 company web site: ATDynamics.com - way to go! |
tail
Looks like it's pretty user-friendly,so more apt to be used rather than torn off the rig by a disgruntled driver.
Glad to see it,and no doubt,it will get truckers talking. All good! Thanks Darin! |
I'm waiting to see one of these on the highways. The side skirts are becoming more common, but that's about the extent of the "new" aero mods I've seen*.
(*in my infrequent highway travels) |
Excellent to finally see them in production.
On my trip to California this winter I saw a few of the skirts on the road. Drafting behind them with a 2 second space, there was no buffeting compared to a skirtless trailer. The difference was very obvious. |
There is a company near here that will probably go to them pretty quick, they had the trailer skirts 5 years ago as well as smooth hub caps for the back rig tires and the large single tires that are supposed to have a lower Crr instead of the duallies.
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That's engineering! Doesn't have to be fancy. Doesn't have to be expensive. Just has to be practical and address a problem. Sweet...
Cheers KB |
Price?
With savings of >5% it would have to be gold and diamond plated to pay for itself in more than 1-2 years. |
Their web site advertizes the device will save $1000-5000 in fuel per year, and pay for itself in less than a year for high-mileage trailers. So, price: $3000-5000, including the four man-hour installation cost, I presume.
It looks like a great product, and I hope they become the norm. |
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For <1/10th that cost the same thing or better could be made of 1/2- 3/4" Coroplast. This cost would include side skirts and radiused leading edges of the trailer box, not to mention an air dam for the tractor, and pizza pans from WalMart for wheel covers. Then, the whole rig would probably be closer to ~15% fuel savings. 1/2" Coroplast or larger has large enough hollow flutes to insert battens for stiffening. Dowel rods would work, or aluminum tubes, etc.. |
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But I see a lot of these one-piece plastic partial boattails: IMG_0738 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Sorry, the only pic I can find is of one that the trailer is opened up. I see these things probably 3-4 times a day on my commute to work. I'd guess they are more effective, but more expensive and more of a pain to get in and out of the trailer. Mike |
Hey guys,
I know this is an old thread, but I actually saw one of these on the highway the other day. And yes I see a a ton of side skirts, plus extended front lower dams. |
sightings
I saw dozens of Mesilla Valley Trucking Co. rigs sporting the Trailer Tail.Not all had it,but most did.Other trucking companies were represented as well.
Also,one Mesilla Valley rig had full-height,downwardly angled, elastic trip-strips attached to the trailer van,preceding the tail for approx. 3-feet. I presume they are there to energize the boundary layer leading onto the tail. It would be my wish that that the tails extend all the way down to ground clearance level.Splash and spray during rain squalls behind these rigs is still so bad that at points I pulled off the interstate to let the storm pass. I never worry about truckers,but some motorists appear to have a death wish.They'd drive blindly into a Waring blender. |
just came to see if anyone had posted about these before so i figured i'll add into this thread too. just drove 1800 miles this weekend and saw lots of trucks with trailer skirts but only one of these. Caught my eye enough to take a pic.
http://i.imgur.com/aj0ty.jpg i wonder if there have been any studies over real world fuel efficiency gains from having this thing on? |
well, I can tell you this, no trucker is going to run with that if it doesnt work!
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This week on a road trip I saw one of these up close and personal. Then I saw an inflatable one. (No pic - I was riding motorcycle.)
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